Dairy Herd Health

This course draws on the experience gained by the UCD Dairy Herd Health Group in investigating many herd problems throughout Ireland. The programme will consist of modules in herd health skills, dairy herd fertility, nutrition and production disease, milk quality and mastitis, calf health and heifer rearing, and bio-secure/infectious diseases. The programme is designed for Irish conditions and production systems, and how Irish veterinarians deal with issues. It is expected that students will attend a number of face to face teaching days in Lyons research farm.



• Applicants must possess a degree in Veterinary medicine that is registerable with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (www.vci.ie).

• Applicants must have access to dairy farms and dairy farm data to complete relevant coursework such as farm reports.

• Applicants should have at least three years of relevant veterinary practice experience.

• Applicants must demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice.



Grad Cert Dairy Herd Health consists of modules in herd health skills, dairy herd fertility, nutrition and production disease, milk quality and mastitis, calf health and heifer rearing, and bio-secure/infectious diseases.



• distance programme that is delivered on-line through the use of problem-based learning with current herd problems providing the necessary material.

• innovative online-learning activities coupled with hands on teaching of herd based clinical skills at the UCD Lyons Farm or the UCD Veterinary Hospital.

• practical sessions that will teach students a range of skills invaluable to cattle practitioners, for example body condition scoring, locomotion scoring, teat scoring, recent developments in reproductive ultrasonography for cattle.



What Will I Learn?

• Assess the role of disease in milk quality including the microbiology and pathophysiology of mastitis, the interaction with milking machine function / technique and mastitis control principles

• Compare and contrast the principal factors contributing to dairy cow lameness

• Conduct and critically evaluate a dairy herd health investigation or monitoring exercise in any relevant area

• Critically discuss and debate the principles involved in preventing enteric and respiratory diseases of calves

• Critically discuss and debate the role played by herd health and production management in sustainable, profitable dairy farming systems that produce high quality safe food in a manner consistent with good dairy cow welfare

• Design and evaluate costings of a herd health problem

• Discuss and assess the role played by dairy cow nutrition in disease prevention and producer profitability

• Discuss relevant infectious diseases and compare and contrast their control strategies in dairy cattle

• Discuss the multifactorial nature of periparturient disease and infertility

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Select all 4 Core Modules from Year 1

VET40170 Nutrition&Production Diseases Autumn 5

VET40180 Herd Health Investig Skills Autumn 5

VET40140 Calf Health & Heifer Rearing Spring 5

VET40150 Milk Quality & Mastitis Summer 5



Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:

Select both Core modules from Year 2

VET40130 Dairy Herd Fertility Autumn 5

VET40160 Infectious diseases, biosecurity and parasite control Autumn 5

• Applicants must possess a degree in Veterinary medicine that is registerable with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (www.vci.ie).

• Applicants must have access to dairy farms and dairy farm data to complete relevant coursework such as farm reports.

• Applicants should have at least three years of relevant veterinary practice experience.

• Applicants must demonstrate a significant interest in dairy cattle practice.

• Non-UCD Graduates must provide transcripts of degree(s).



International applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency.



If English is not your native language and unless you have completed your primary degree through English, an English language qualification is required (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL).

IELTS – an overall score of 6.0 IELTS (90-100 Internet Based)

TOEFL – 550 on the paper-based test TOEFL (213 on Computer Based)



An extensive induction to learning online will be provided, however applicants will also require:

1. Broadband Access

2. Access to a computer

3. Basic IT skills (e.g. the ability to browse the internet, use email and word processing applications etc.)



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

18 months Part-Time. Delivery: Online.

X389: Grad Cert in Dairy Herd Health Part-time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught